Author Archives
Gardner-Webb University Grad | CCA | NCFCA | SEFCA | Marathon Runner | Big-Time Swiftie
-
Documentary “QT8: The First Eight” sparkles with the same energy as its subject.
When any person remotely familiar with the art of filmmaking hears the name “Quentin Tarantino,” there are a number of ideas that might come to mind. Whether it is the unparalleled mastery of explicit dialogue, the bizarre concentration on highly… Read More ›
-
Ambitious sci-fi thriller “The Fare” is now available on home video.
From director D.C. Hamilton and screenwriter Brinna Kelly, The Fare is a film that almost defies categorization. At times, if feels like a science-fiction mystery, with shocking and striking narrative shifts. At other points, it appears as a romantic dramedy,… Read More ›
-
New documentary “To Kid Or Not To Kid” explores the diverse perspectives of having kids.
The question of whether or not to have children is faced by the majority of people at a certain point in their lives. Depending on factors such as each individual’s cultural background or socio-economic standing, there may be varying responses… Read More ›
-
War drama “Danger Close” is an astounding testament the power of sacrifice, brotherhood, and dedicated cooperation.
War movies have been around since the days of silent cinema. There is something about this brutally intense human experience that, despite its horrific nature, always produces intriguing stories that can be massively impactful when told in an effective fashion…. Read More ›
-
Explore the significance of theatrical audio in documentary “Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound”.
The vast majority of filmgoers and movie fans around the world associate the term “motion picture” with just that, the picture. We tend to first and foremost focus on the visuals, the aesthetics, and the things that can be seen… Read More ›
-
Personal, yet subjective, documentary “Elevation Change” is an emboldening tale of persistence and perseverance.
From director Marion Mauran, the new documentary Elevation Change depicts the astounding journey of Sam Fox, a young endurance athlete who sets out to break the speed record on the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) which stretches over 2,500 miles from… Read More ›
-
Planning to check out “Bloodline”? Go in with an open mind and a stomach of steel.
The unrelenting, brutally realistic, and “Hard-R” feature, Bloodline, from director Henry Jacobson, examines the atrocities of a serial killer from a unique perspective. Rather than the stereotypical villain who inhumanely preys on the weak and helpless out of sheer wickedness,… Read More ›
-
Writer/director Jason Cabell draws from personal experience to create crime thriller “Running with the Devil”.
The crime thriller genre has been explored thousands of times, with many different approaches, throughout the history of cinema. Some of the best directors in this category, such as Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Brian de Palma, and Michael Mann,… Read More ›
-
Director Alexandre Moratto crafts a personal portrait reflective of his experiences in “Socrates”.
From the opening shot of director Alexandre Moratto’s Brazilian coming-of-age drama, Socrates, audiences will recognize that they are in for a very personal, brutally honest, and unrelenting emotional journey following the life of a struggling young teen in São Paulo…. Read More ›
-
Documentary “ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas” wonderfully celebrates 50 years of Texas Rock n’ Blues.
Critically-acclaimed documentarian and International Emmy-winning filmmaker Sam Dunn takes the directorial reins in his latest project, ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the band’s 1969 conception, this documentary tells the story of the… Read More ›
-
“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” is Quentin Tarantino’s Storybook Tribute to the Hollywood of Old.
It is quite a challenging task to touch on every element that makes a Quentin Tarantino film work. It would not even be a stretch to say that one could write an entire dissertation essay on over a dozen individual… Read More ›
-
Disney’s “The Lion King” is visually riveting, but an ultimately bland recycling of the original.
Critically-acclaimed director, writer, and producer Jon Favreau oversees this photo-realistic remake of Disney’s 1994 animated feature The Lion King. The original film was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, and was written by trio Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, Linda… Read More ›
-
“The Spy Behind Home Plate” explores baseball player Moe Berg’s life as a spy during World War II.
The new documentary The Spy Behind Home Plate, written, directed, and produced by Aviva Kempner, depicts the incredible true story of Morris “Moe” Berg, a notably successful Major League Baseball athlete who played for five different teams over the course… Read More ›
-
Greg Kinnear makes his directorial debut with dramedy “Phil”.
Oscar-nominated actor Greg Kinnear makes his directorial debut with the new film Phil, and also stars in the lead role as the eponymous character. Phil McGuire is a fairly successful dentist who runs his own practice, yet struggles with deep… Read More ›
-
Sony Classics crime thriller “The Fall of the American Empire” is an emotionally captivating experience.
Oscar-winning director Denys Arcand offers The Fall of the American Empire, an eclectic genre mash-up combining crime drama, a thrilling heist adventure, and a social commentary. This French-Canadian film spoken almost entirely in the beautiful language of French (and subtitled… Read More ›
-
Thriller “The Refuge” is a passion project that can’t rise above its complications.
Examining the credits of this film, Keith Sutliff’s impressive effort becomes apparent as he worked as the writer, director, producer, production designer, art director, and lead actor. Undertaking all of these responsibilities to bring together a vision for this project… Read More ›
-
Crime drama “Chase” possesses the formula of a fascinating character drama, but can’t quite get the pieces to fit.
From writer and director Michael Matteo Rossi, Chase follows the title character’s (Damien Puckler) journey as he attempts to maneuver his way out of a life of crime, violence, and deception. There is a solid layer of intriguing foundational material… Read More ›
-
Documentary “Free Trip to Egypt” presents the adventure of seven U.S. citizens on a cultural experience of a lifetime.
The premise of Free Trip to Egypt on its own is enough to grab any person’s attention who is remotely aware of the state of our world’s societal and political issues. A Muslim man of Egyptian heritage, Tarek Mounib, sets… Read More ›
-
Brian De Palma’s “Domino” is an underwhelming effort from the acclaimed director.
On the surface, legendary director Brian de Palma’s latest project, Domino, looks like it has solid potential to be a successful under-the-radar crime drama. With a cast including Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau and Carice van Houten of Game of Thrones fame, as… Read More ›
-
“Charlie Says” challenges audiences to reconsider what they know of the Manson Family.
Simply hearing the name “Charles Manson” is enough to send a chill down the spine of most people even somewhat familiar with this disturbingly vile and despicable figure. Known as the infamous cult leader responsible for the deaths of nine… Read More ›